The Two of Us

The News

After leaving the school and saying my goodbye to Gabby, I made the 10 minute walk home. I tried to think of what I was going to tell my mother the whole time, but I kept coming up short with ideas. Eventually, my front door came into view. I stopped a foot from the door and deeply sighed. I guess it's now or never. I opened the door and walked in. 

"Mom, I'm home!" I yelled asI shut the door. 

Kitchen. Now.” Her stern voice demanded from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the fleeting image of her as she moved out of my line of sight. I stood at the door a moment longer and collected my thoughts. I signed one final time then headed towards my impending doom. 

My mom was sitting at the head of the table, which was facing the doorway. Her dark brown eyes glaring at me. Her usual straight black hair was up in a short bun. She was wearing a white sweatshirt with old blue jeans. Her face was completely devoid of any expression and her hands clasp together on the table. 

Oh, this is bad. 

My dad, who long divorced my mother, was also at the table along with my older sister and two younger sisters. All of them had their heads turned towards me. 

"H-hey guys. What's going on?" I let out a nervous laugh as I tried to slowly back out of the room. 

“Sit. Now.” My mother threatened, no emotion in her face. I gulped again and quickly sat in the chair and instantly looked down at the table. We sat there in silence for a moment. “Do you know why everyone's here?” My mother asked coolly.

"Um… because I got expelled.” I said quietly, my gazed locked onto the table. 

 “That’s right.” She cooed, a small smile formed on her lips. “Do you know why I’m upset?”

“I’m the good child.” I said quickly. I leaned forward in the seat, my hands gripping the edge of my seat. 

Were,” She corrected as she suddenly stood. “You were the good child.” She walked around the table as she wonder what seems aimlessly around the kitchen. The room was silent for a few moments. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of my mom moving things around on the counters behind me. I looked up at the table and made eye contact with my dad. 

"We expected more out of you Aelita.” He said with a disappointed look. 

“Yes we did.” My mother added from somewhere behind me. 

I looked back down at the table with a gulp. When my parents get like this, there is only one thing to say. "I apologize for my actions that I did that caused everyone here to be upset. I promise that in the future I will work harder to not make the same mistake.” I recited as my body started to tense up. 

“Oh you will work harder.” My mom's voice game directly from behind me. I instantly sat up straight as I felt her hands come to rest on my shoulder. "Obviously things are not working out here for you, since you seem to be constantly getting into trouble." My mom's grip on my shoulders tighten as she talked. "I think that you need a ... change of scenery." Mom let go of shoulders and stepped to the side of the chair. She did not say anything for a moment. I could feel sweat start to form at the base of my neck, my hands were becoming very clamy. "I think that you need to go live with your Aunt June." 

I snapped my head up and met my mothers gaze. "You cannot be serious? I hardly know Aunt June. Doesn't she live in the next town anyway?" The tighten my fist against the fabric of my jeans. 

"It's fine. I already talked to her and she is excited to have you. Your cousin Natasha is in the same grade as you so you should at least no one person in the school." Mom gave me an easy smile. She brought her hand to the top of my head and rubbed it gently. "I am going to miss you terribly, but this is for the best." 

"What about my life here? What about Gabby?" I pleaded, tears starting to pool in the corner of my eyes. "She is like my only friend I have." 

Mom hummed, her hand stopping at the top of my head. "Your bags are already packed and your Aunt will be here any minute. Why don't you go to your room and make sure you have everything that you want to take with you." Mom cooed then turned away from me. Her showing her back usually means that the conversation is over, but I cannot accept this. 

"Mother, do you really expect me to just make new friends? I barely have anyone as is?!" More tears started to pool at the corners of my eyes. 

Mom turned and gave me a small smile. "You better hurry up. You do not want to keep your aunt waiting." She then turned back around and continue doing what ever she was doing on the counter. 

I turned and looked at my dad. He was looking every where but at me. I turned toward my three other siblings and none of them were looking at me either. I could not stop that tears that were starting to fall down my face. With one more pleading glance around the room, I jumped up from my chair and quickly dashed up stairs. 

Once I was in my room, I quickly slammed the door shut behind me and slide to the floor. I brought my legs up to my knees as the tears continued to fall. After a few minutes, I looked around my room. In the middle of the floor was a large suitcase that was opened. I could see my clothes folded neatly inside. The rest of my room was barely touched. The posters and pictures were still on the wall, the little trinkets that I had were on top of my dresser, my bed was still made from this morning. The only thing that was different was the -d**n suitcase that was in the middle of the floor. 

The tears were larger and falling faster down my face. "I can't believe this." I muttered into my knees. "What am going to do." "That doesn't sound like packing to me!" Mom yelled in a cheery voice. "Make sure you take everything because you will not be back for a looooooonnng while." 

I silently screamed in my head as I pulled my legs tighter against myself as my body started to tremble. I was on the verge of becoming hysterical by her taunting. It took a few more minutes to stop trembling. I sniffed and looked up my room. All the memories I had with my friends, specially Gabby, played through my mind. "I only had one friend left, and she had to take that away too." I muttered as I wiped the tears from my face. 

I sniffed and looked at the dresser. My eyes landed on a picture in a cheap frame. I stood up and went to look at the picture. There were seven people in the picture. My eyes landed on the girl with the long read hair that looked like me, and the two boys that were on either side of her. 

The one on the left side had straight black hair that was buzzed on the sides, but longer on top. He had  a bright blue strip on his left side. His pale greens eyes wide and crossed. His slightly freckles face was puffed out and his lips were pressed together. His arms wrapped around the redhead's shoulders. The guy on the right had dark brown hair with faded in to red and stopped just a little past pierced his ears. His eyes were closed, but his pierced tongue was sticking out. His left arm was wrapped around my waist. 

I smiled fondly at the picture, the tears still coming down my face. I held the picture close to my chest, a hum escaping my lips. 

"Aelita! Your Aunt is here!" Mom called up. 

"Coming." I called standing to my feet. I looked at the picture as I made my way to the suit case. I gently placed the picture underneath some of the clothes then zipped up my bag. I let out a sigh as I looked around my room. "This is it." I muttered. I stood up, grabbed the suit case, and wheeled it out of the room. 

As I left the room, I looked back one last time. A small smile was on my lips. "Thanks." I muttered to no one in particular as I shut the door for the last time.